Electron-discharge apparatus



April 22, 1924.

P. R. FQRTIN ELECTRON DISCHARGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 12

Inventor Paul R. Fortin,

His Attorney.

PAUL B. FORTIN, OF SGHENEGTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENMAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. I

. ELECTRON-DISCHARGE APPARATUS.

Application filed February 12, 1921.

To (122 whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, PAUL R. FoR'rIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electron-DischargeApparatus, of which the following is a specification.-

My present invention relates to electron discharge apparatus, and moreparticularly to means for cooling one of the electrodes of an electrondischarge device.

In one form of electron discharge device which comprises an incandescentcathode, an anode and a grid enclosed in an evacuated receptacle,aportion of the receptacle is made of metal and this metal portion ofthe receptacle is utilized as the anode. In the operation of suchdevices, particularly when high potentials are employed, a large amountof heat is produced at the anode and it therefore becomes desirable toprovide means for artificially cooling the anode. The object ofmyinvention is to provide a simple and eificient means for accomplishingthis result.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and method of operationwill best be understood by reference to the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows partlyin perspective and partly in section one embodiment of my invention andFig. 2 is a plan view of a portion thereof.

As indicated in the drawing, the cooling means which I provide for theelectron discharge device 1 comprises a container 2 for a cooling liquidwhich may be employed to cool the anode 3 of the device. The container 2is provided with a large amount of radiating surface by means of aplurality of tubes 4 extending vertically therethrough. The pipe 5connects the bottom of the container 2 with the top. The anode 3 of theelectron discharge device is inserted in an opening 6 in the pipe 5, anda liquid tight joint is made at this opening so that the iqquidcirculating in the pipe 5 cannot leak out around the anode 3. Inthe'operation of the cooling means the liquid around anode 3fisheated-and rises through the pipe 5 to the top of the container 2. Theliquid is through the Serial No. 444,524.

then cooled in container 2 and circulates toward the bottom of thecontainer, and back pipe 5; thus a continuous natural circulatlon of thecooling liquid is provided The cooling of the liquid in the container 2is facilitated by causing a blast of air to flow through the pi es 4,this blast of air being furnished by t e fan 7 which directs the airthrough a conduit 8 of insulating material into the tubes 4.

In the ordinary operation of the electron discharge device 1, the anode3 is maintained at a high potential with respect to the other electrodesof the device and with respect to" earth, and it is essential that thecontainer 2 be insulated from earth. This is accomplished by m untingthe container 2 upon an insulator Q by meansof a pivotal connection 10so arranged that the container 2 may be rotated about the horizontalaxis when it is desired to remove the device 1 from the pipe 5. This isdesirable in order that the liquid in the container shall not leak outthrough the opening 6 when the device 1 is removed.

In order to provide an electrical connection to the anode 3 a contactmember 11 is secured to the pipe 5 and when the container is in itsnormal operating position this con tact member 11 makes contact withstationary clips 12. When the container 2 is rotated to remove thedevice 1, this contact is automatically broken.

A- pair of contacts 13, of which only one are shown in the drawing, aremounted upon an insulating base 14 secured to bracket 15 on the top ofthe container -2. These contacts are connected to the terminals of thecathode of the device 1, and when the container 2 is in its normaloperating position make contact with stationary contact members 16 towhich the source of current supply for the cathode may be connected.When the container 2 is rotated to remove the device 1, the connectionsto the cathode are also automatically broken between contacts 13 and 16.

The terminalfor the grid electrode 18 is usually brought out on one sideof the portion 17 of the. evacuated receptacle as indicated in Fig. 2. Astationary contact member 18 may also be provided-for making contact tothe terminal of the 'grid electrode. It will be noted that by thearrangement shown and described, the container 2 is its . the top,

insulated from all arts of the apparatus which are connected to earth bymeans of the insulator 9 and the insulating conduit 8, and thatconnections to the electron discharge device must be broken before thedevice can be removed from the container. Any possibility of accident tothe operator in removing the device 1 is therefore eliminated.

The ear 19 with a hole therethrough, which is formed on the container 2,permits of the rotation of the container about horizontal axis 10 bymeans of a hook with an insulated handle thereon.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that myinvention is by no means limited to the specific structure shown, andthat many modifications therein may be made without departing from thescope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates,

1. The combination with an electron discharge device having1 anexhaustedrecepltacle, aportion of w ich the metal portion of saidreceptacle forming one of the electrodes of said device, of a containerfor a cooling liquid, a pipe'connecting the bottom of said containerwith said pipe having an opening therein in which the metal portion ofsaid receptacle may be inserted so as to be in contact with the coolingliquid flowing in said pipe,

said container being insulated from earth and having switching meanssecured thereto through which current may be supplied to said electrondischarge device and being rotatably mounted about an axis.

2. The combination with an electron discharge device having an exhaustedreceptacle, a portion of which consists of metal,

the metal portion of said receptacle form-.

ing one of the electrodes of said device, of a container for a coolingliquid, a pipe connecting the bottom of said container with the top,said pipe having an opening therein in which the metal portion of saidreceptacle may be inserted so as to be in contact with the coolingliquid flowing in said pipe, said container being insulated from earthand having switching means secured thereto through which current may besupplied to said electron discharge device and being rotatably mountedabout an axis in such a way that when in its normal position the circuitconnections to said electron discharge device will be closed by saidswitching means and when the container is rotated to another positionthe circuit connections will be opened.

3. The combination with an electron discharge device having an exhaustedrecepconsists of meta naturally mares-r tacle, a portion of whichconsists of metal, the metal portion of said receptacle forming one ofthe electrodes ofsaid device, of a container for a cooling liquid havinga large area of radiatin surface, a pipe con: necting the bottom 0% saidcontainer with the top, said pipe having an opening therein in which themetal portion of said receptacle may be inserted so as to be in contactwith the cooling liquid flowing in said pipe, said container beinginsulated from earth and a conduit of insulating material for directinga cooling medium against the radiating surface of said container.

4. The combination with an electron discharge device havin an exhaustedreceptacle, a portion of w ich consists of metal, the metal portion ofsaid receptacle forming one of the electrodes of said device, of acontainer for a cooling liquid having a large area of radiating surface,a pipe connecting the bottom of said container with the top, said pipehaving an opening therein in which the meta] portion of said receptaclemay be inserted so as to be in contact with the cooling liquid flowingin said pipe, said con tamer being insulated from earth, a fan forproducing a blast of air and a conduit of insulating material fordirecting the blast of air produced by said fan against the radiatingsurface of said container.

5. The combination with an electron discharge device having an exhaustedreceptacle, a portion of which consists of metal, the metal portion ofsaid receptacle fo ing one of the electrodes of said device, of acontainer for a cooling liquid, the ap paratus being so arranged thatthe cooling liquid surrounds the metal portion of said receptacle andthat cool liquid will flow toward the metal portion of said receptacle,said container being insulated from earth and having switching meanssecure-d thereto through which current may be supplied to said electrondischarge device, and being rotatably mounted about an I axis.

6. The combination with an electron discharge device having an exhaustedreceptacle, a portion of which consists of metal, the metal portion ofsaid receptacle forming one of the electrodes of said device, of acontainer for a cooling liquid, the apparatus being so arranged that thecoolin liquid surrounds the metal portion of said receptacle and thatcool liquid will flow naturally toward the metal portion of saidreceptacle, said container being insulated from earth and havingswitching means secured thereto through which current may be supplied tosaid electron discharge device and being rotatably mounted about anaxis, in such a way that when in its normal position the circuitconnections to said electron discharge device will be closed by saidswitching means and when the container is rotated to another positionthe circuit connections will be 0 ened.

7. The combination wit an electron discharge device havin an exhaustedreceptacle a portion of which consistsof metal, the metal portion ofsaid receptacle formingone of the electrodes of said device, of acontainer for a cooling liquid for cooling the metal portion of saidreceptacle and supporting means for said container compris ing circuitconnections for supplying current to the electrodes of said device, saidcontainer being rotatably mounted on the supporting means about an axisin such a way that when in its normal position the circuit connectionsfor supplying current to the electrodes of the device will be closed.and when the container is rotated to another position the circuitconnections to the device will be opened.

8. The combination in an apparatus of the class described of a containeradapted to 'hold a cooling liquid,'means associated with said containerfor providing a circulation of cooling liquid around an electrode of anelectron discharge device and supporting means for said containercomprising circuit connections for supplying current to the electrodesof an electron discharge device, said container being adapted to bemoved with respect to said supporting means in such a way that in oneposition of the container the circuit connections for supplying currentto the electrodes of an electron discharge device will be closed andwhen the container is moved to another position the circuit connectionswill be opened.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day ofFebruary, 1921.

PAUL R. FORTIN.

